August 20, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 20, 2017

Thanks to all of the people who joined the River Cleanup yesterday.  There is a lot less garbage in the river his morning due to all of their hard work.  Dette’s won the competition with a lot of tires and boats full of trash.  In total there is dumpster less trash out there plus 71 tires removed from the system.  Thanks to all of the participants, Pig Farm Ink, Troegs Brewing, Costa Del Mar, and Simms.  It was pretty awesome to see 40 people who love the Delaware get out there and make good things happen for the system.  Next year’s cleanup will be bigger and better!

Yesterday was a mix of weather.  We had fog and decent clouds in the morning.  Add in the off color water and it was perfect for streamers.  The rest of the day was a mix of sun and clouds trading back and forth for a bit. After dark we were hit with a brief storm that was heavy for a bit.  That’s why the West Branch is flowing at 900 cfs this morning.  It has peaked and is dropping back already this morning.  This is going to be a good morning to get out there before the fog burns off and throw streamers.  We should see some sun today mixed with a few clouds.  Winds will be under 10 mph with air temperatures reaching the high 70’s.   There are a lot of olives on the building this morning so definitely keep that box handy in case of risers.

Jeff and Dave with a big Tiger yesterday morning. Photo by Bruce Miller

Jared found some tires, toys, and lawn furniture in the river!

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16 – 20 – Ephemerella dorothea
Golden Drake – 12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Tricos – #22 – 26 – Tricorythodes
White Flies – #12-2xl – Ephoron lukon
Little Tan Sedge – #16 – 18 – Glossosoma sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophilia sp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

August 19, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 19, 2017

Yesterday we had a nice steady rain with a couple of periods of heavier stuff.  The ground soaked up most of it and the rivers held together well. It finally caught up to some of the feeder creeks in the late afternoon and we had some color and the West Branch shot up to 1,400 cfs at Hale Eddy.  Once the rain stopped the West Branch dropped back just as fast and we are already down to 756 cfs this morning.  The WB above Oquaga Creek barely budged and is in normal shape. This looks like a good streamer morning if you can get out before the sun burns through the fog and hits the water.  We should see a mix of sun and clouds today with negligible winds.  There is a chance of an afternoon storm but the precipitation should be .04″.  Hopefully we see more clouds than sun and it pushes the olives to hatch on the lower WB.

Today is our river cleanup day so stop by if you’re in the area to meet some cool people from Pig Farm Ink and Troegs Brewery.

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16 – 20 – Ephemerella dorothea
Golden Drake – 12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Tricos – #22 – 26 – Tricorythodes
White Flies – #12-2xl – Ephoron lukon
Little Tan Sedge – #16 – 18 – Glossosoma sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophilia sp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

August 18, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 18, 2017

We woke up to a light rain this morning but so far it’s soaked into the ground.  It looks like the first round of heavy weather went south of us.  There is the potential for a few storms this afternoon but they’re going to be isolated so we’ll have to wait and see.  It’s nice to see the clouds and light rain after the last few days of sun.  This has been The Summer of Olives and this definitely feels like another olive day.  Hopefully the weather pushes a few more sulphurs, isonychias, golden drakes, and cahills.  We’ve seen isolated decent hatching of those but it would be nice to see it river wide.  These humid days always have to potential to bring out the flying ants too.

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16 – 20 – Ephemerella dorothea
Golden Drake – 12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Tricos – #22 – 26 – Tricorythodes
White Flies – #12-2xl – Ephoron lukon
Little Tan Sedge – #16 – 18 – Glossosoma sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophilia sp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

August 17, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 17, 2017

The forecast has changed a bit and Accuweather has now pushed today’s rain to tonight and tomorrow.  We’ll have fog this morning breaking up into partly sunny skies.  Winds should be fine at 5 mph and gusts only to 7 mph.  It looks like most of the clouds will come in right around dark.  If the forecast holds stick to the normal Summer program.  If you’re looking for daytime dry fly fishing stay above Hale Eddy on the West Branch or above Harvard on the East Branch.  We should still see the normal sulphurs and olives.  If you want to nymph stay below Hale Eddy on the West due to the algae.  If the forecast is correct we should see good olive weather tomorrow opening up more river miles to daytime hatching.  For something totally different check out the smallmouth fishing on the lower Mainstem.  A river smallmouth fight is hard to beat.

Last nights top water eater

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16 – 20 – Ephemerella dorothea
Golden Drake – 12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Tricos – #22 – 26 – Tricorythodes
White Flies – #12-2xl – Ephoron lukon
Little Tan Sedge – #16 – 18 – Glossosoma sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophilia sp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

August 16, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 16, 2017

The sun was out for most of the afternoon but it gave way to a light evening rain.  The river flows bumped slightly but not enough to really matter.  We’re still looking good with the 500 cfs release on the West Branch.  Air temperatures should stay in the high 70’s today with sunshine.  The best day time dry fly fishing will be on the upper West Branch and upper East Branch.  look for the coldest water.  There are still olives and sulphurs hatching.  The lower West Branch is definitely better for nymphing.  The dry fly activity will mostly be after the sun drops behind the hills.  Olives and a few Cahills have been around.

This Saturday. There will be beer

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16 – 20 – Ephemerella dorothea
Golden Drake – 12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Tricos – #22 – 26 – Tricorythodes
White Flies – #12-2xl – Ephoron lukon
Little Tan Sedge – #16 – 18 – Glossosoma sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophilia sp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

August 15, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 15, 2017

So far today looks like a decent one.  The flows have dropped back and we woke up to a light rain.  We should see intermittent clouds and sun with a chance of a small thunderstorm.  Winds should stay around 6 mph according to Accuweather.  Precipitation should be less than 1/10″.  This feels like an olive day.  Otherwise we are in the same pattern of olives and sulphurs on the upper river sections and olives in the evening on the lower sections.  There is a shot of Golden Drakes and Cahills (a lot of Stenocrons) on any section.  We are even finding some Cahills mixed with the White Flies down in Callicoon while we’re smallmouth fishing.

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16 – 20 – Ephemerella dorothea
Golden Drake – 12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Tricos – #22 – 26 – Tricorythodes
White Flies – #12-2xl – Ephoron lukon
Little Tan Sedge – #16 – 18 – Glossosoma sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophilia sp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

August 14, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 14, 2017

At some point one of the localized storms hit a feeder and the West Branch had some color in it by the afternoon.  It stayed fishable but was definitely unexpected. When the sun broke through the clouds it was definitely hot.  Hopefully people found some shaded banks to work.  The WB is looking good this morning.  The runoff has subsided and the flow at Hale Eddy is 575 cfs.  We’re mostly fishing small olives with some sulphurs mixed in.  Wunderground is forecasting a mostly cloudy sky with air temperatures in the high 70’s.  Winds should stay very low.

The flow at Hale Eddy is dropping back to normal

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16 – 20 – Ephemerella dorothea
Golden Drake – 12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Tricos – #22 – 26 – Tricorythodes
White Flies – #12-2xl – Ephoron lukon
Little Tan Sedge – #16 – 18 – Glossosoma sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophilia sp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

August 13, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 13, 2017

We had some rain overnight and the river flows bumped up slightly.  We are already dropping back this morning and the rivers look clear in Hancock.  Most of the storms slid North of us and we ended up with more afternoon sunshine than originally forecasted.  The lower West Branch had some little olives in the evening while the upper West had a mix of some sulphurs and olives.  The upper West is your best bet for dry flies.  If you want to nymph stay lower due to the algae.  Wunderground is calling for a partly cloudy sky with winds under 10 mph.  That probably means sunshine so head up river for daytime dryfly action or look for areas that get early afternoon shade.  The lower Mainstem looks good for smallmouth with decent flows and temperatures in Callicoon.

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16 – 20 – Ephemerella dorothea
Golden Drake – 12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Tricos – #22 – 26 – Tricorythodes
White Flies – #12-2xl – Ephoron lukon
Little Tan Sedge – #16 – 18 – Glossosoma sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophilia sp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

August 12, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 12, 2017

We were hit with a storm yesterday afternoon but the system looks to be in fine shape here in Hancock.  The West Branch flow barely bumped and remains in good shape for wading and floating.  The Beaverkill flow bumped to 589 cfs so the lower East Branch and Mainstem will rise a bit today.  We have a slight chance of an brief afternoon storm today but the probability looks less than 50% and the amount of rain should be negligible.  There is quite a bit of fog on the water this morning and some clouds hanging around.  Winds should stay under 10 mph.  Wunderground doesn’t show much sunshine in the forecast so it looks like a decent olive day.  We’ll still see the sulphurs on the upper WB and hopefully the weather pushes the Cahills and Isonychias.

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16 – 20 – Ephemerella dorothea
Golden Drake – 12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Tricos – #22 – 26 – Tricorythodes
White Flies – #12-2xl – Ephoron lukon
Little Tan Sedge – #16 – 18 – Glossosoma sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophilia sp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

August 11, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 11, 2017

Today looks like a really good day to be on the water.  We have cloud cover already.  Winds should be light and stay under 10 mph.  There is a chance of a couple storms moving through but so far there isn’t much on the radar.  Wunderground is showing the best potential for storms is overnight so hopefully we will keep the clouds, low wind, and maybe a light rain.  The aair temperature is staying in the 70’s today.  It definitely looks like an olive day but we’ve been seeing decent sulphurs and cahills on these types of days so have those patterns handy.  Golden Drakes are showing here and there too.  The overcast sky should help the nymphing on the lower West Branch before the hatching starts.

Ed has been having a good few days on the Delaware

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16 – 20 – Ephemerella dorothea
Golden Drake – 12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Tricos – #22 – 26 – Tricorythodes
White Flies – #12-2xl – Ephoron lukon
Little Tan Sedge – #16 – 18 – Glossosoma sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophilia sp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

August 10, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 10, 2017

Today will pretty much be like yesterday.  We’re looking at more sun today with warmer air temperatures.  Winds look less than 5 mph.  Mid-day dry fly action should be best above Hale Eddy.  Nymphing will be better below Hale.  The dry fly action on the lower river will pick up towards evening.  Think shade and drop offs.  Besides the sulphurs and olives of every size carry a few cahills, isonychias, and golden drakes. Keep an eye out for flying ants.  We usually look for real humid weather but it’s about that time of year.  The water temperatures on the lower East Branch, lower Beaverkill, and Mainstem all shot up yesterday due to the sun and air temps.  They are starting off warm this morning.  Let’s give them a break.

Ron and Ed with a nice rainbow to the net yesterday

We should have some rain moving in tomorrow afternoon and lasting into the weekend.

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16 – 20 – Ephemerella dorothea
Golden Drake – 12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Tricos – #22 – 26 – Tricorythodes
White Flies – #12-2xl – Ephoron lukon
Little Tan Sedge – #16 – 18 – Glossosoma sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophilia sp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update:

August 9, 2017

Delaware River Report / Conditions August 9, 2017

We had decent cloud cover for most of yesterday until the afternoon when the sun broke through.  No rain though so the rivers are dropping back to normal and everything is in decent shape for wading this morning.  We’re going to have more sun and warmer air temperatures today.  If you’re looking for mid day dry fly action head up to Deposit and Stilesville on the West Branch or above Harvard on the East Branch.  Sulphurs and little olives will be your best bets.  If you’d like to nymph mid day stay below Hale Eddy on the WB to avoid the green algae.  Smaller nymphs have been working better over the last couple of days.  Winds should be 6 mph or less today.  The dry fly fishing on the lower WEB should pick up as the sun drops behind the hills or look for pools that get mid afternoon shade.  The lower EB, lower Beaverkill, and Mainstem will heat up quicker today with the sunshine.  Check the water temps with a thermometer first.

Hatching:
Slate Drake #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
Sulphur – #16 – 20 – Ephemerella dorothea
Golden Drake – 12-2xl – Potomanthus distinctus
Light Cahill – #14 – Summer Sulphurs, Stenocron spp.
Little BWO – #22 – 26- Pseudocloeon sp.
Blue Wing Olives – #18 – Baetis sp.
Tricos – #22 – 26 – Tricorythodes
White Flies – #12-2xl – Ephoron lukon
Little Tan Sedge – #16 – 18 – Glossosoma sp.
Green Caddis – #16 – Ryacophilia sp.
Tan Caddis #16 – 18 – Hydropsyche spp.

Click on the gauge below for the most recent update: